Kevin McGahern

Kevin McGahern (born 7 November 1986) is an Irish comedian, TV presenter, writer and actor. He hosted Republic of Telly between 2013 and 2017 and documentary series Kevin McGahern's America in 2016. McGahern grew up on a farm in Gowna, County Cavan, and graduated from the University of Wolverhampton in 2009 with a degree in animation. He became a stand-up comedian after working as a barman in the birthplace of Irish stand-up comedy, the International Bar. He stated that the two biggest influences on his early stand up were Steve Martin and Dylan Moran.

In 2011, McGahern starred in the independent feature film No Party for Billy Burns, which was written and directed by Padraig Conaty. In 2013, McGahern became the host of Republic of Telly, replacing Dermot Whelan, and continued to host the show until its eventual cancellation in 2017, becoming the longest serving host of the show. In 2017, he hosted his own documentary series Kevin McGahern's America, in which he explored various aspects of life in America. In 2021, McGahern hosted the RTÉ comedy panel show Clear History alongside team captains Joanne McNally and Colin Murphy.

Outside of his career in stand-up and presenting, McGahern is known for his acting work. Chris Tordoff, creator of Hardy Bucks, spotted McGahern during a stand-up performance and offered him a cameo; his character 'Sim Card' quickly became a regular cast member. In 2014, he wrote and directed The Devil's Ceili with Philip Doherty, which won two awards including best play at the All-Ireland Drama Festival. He often uses satire for activism, and married Siobhan Cassidy in 2017, with whom he has two children.